Randolph man enters plea agreement

Tim MacVean

Senior Staff Writer

tmacvean@theintermountain.com

ELKINS — A Randolph County man accused of stealing a can of soda and cookies was sentenced after entering into a plea agreement in Randolph County Magistrate Court.

Bradley David Shifflett, 36, of Elkins, was sentenced to 30 days in jail. He was given credit for time served — roughly 10 days.

Shiflett pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of second-offense shoplifting, as part of a plea agreement. The prosecution dismissed the felony count of third-offense shoplifting.

Randolph County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Lectka Poling represented the state while Shifflett appeared with Brent Easton as defense counsel. Randolph County Magistrate George M. “Mike” Riggleman presided.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Oct. 29, Elkins Police Department Patrolmen W.D. Butcher and D.T. Sayre responded to Dollar General Store, located on Third Street, regarding a shoplifting in progress.

Upon arrival, Butcher spoke with a female employee who said two men and one woman had been in the store and possibly concealed items. Two of the individuals had left but one male was still on premises, and she had seen him conceal a can of Coca-Cola and a pack of chocolate chip cookies.

Butcher made contact with the man, identified as Shifflett, in the back of the store.

Sayre observed the items, believed to be the soda and cookies, “hanging out” of Shifflett’s clothing and searched him.

The cookies were found in the chest pocket of his shirt and the Coca-Cola was found in a separate shopping bag in his possession. Shifflett told officers he concealed the items because he was hungry, the complaint states.

The cookies were valued at 90 cents and the can of Coca-Cola was valued at $1. Randolph County 911 Communication confirmed Shifflett had two prior first-offense shoplifting convictions on July 7, 2015, and July 10, 2015, according to the complaint.

Also in Randolph County Magistrate Court:

• James Richard Norman, 38, of Mill Creek, waived his preliminary hearing. Norman is charged with one felony count of bringing controlled substance into jail.

His waiver means his case will be bound over to the Randolph County Circuit Court for presentation to a grand jury.

Poling represented the state while Norman appeared with David Fuellhart as defense counsel. Riggleman presided.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, Cpl. G.S. DeWeese, of the West Virginia State Police, transported two male individuals to Tygart Valley Regional Jail on Oct. 22.

While at the facility, jail officials was informed that one of the men — Norman — was in possession of a white substance that appeared to be methamphetamine.

Correctional Officer Carpenter said the substance was on Norman’s person and gave it to DeWeese, the complaint states.

If convicted, Norman could be sentenced to not less than two nor more than 10 years, fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000, or both. Or, at the discretion of the court, he could be sentenced to not more than one year in jail and fined not more than $500.